Families across Kildare South 'struggling to heat their homes'

Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, has said that all Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs must support Sinn Féin’s Dáil legislation to cut the price of petrol, diesel and home heating oil.

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh said families and workers in Kildare South are being pushed to the brink by spiralling fuel costs, while Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael “continue to stand idly by.”

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh said: “Across Kildare South, I am hearing every day from people who are struggling to keep up - struggling to heat their homes, struggling to fill the car to get to work and struggling to make ends meet.

“People are being hammered by rising fuel costs, and yet this government continues to sit on its hands. That is why Sinn Féin has brought forward this legislation to cut the price of petrol and diesel by 25c a litre and the price of home heating oil by €183.”

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh said the situation is being made worse by government decisions.

READ NEXT: School community-led Park & Stride initiative launched in Kildare

“Instead of stepping in to help, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have actually made things worse by pressing ahead with further tax increases on home heating oil.  That is the wrong decision at the worst possible time.”

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh said there are clear, immediate steps the government could take to ease the pressure on households.

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael could act today to reduce fuel prices. They could scrap the planned increase in taxes on home heating oil. They could cut excise on petrol and diesel to bring prices down at the pump.

“These are practical measures that would put money back in people’s pockets - but this government is choosing not to act.

“Sinn Féin’s motion, being debated in the Dáil this evening, calls on the government to immediately reduce the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil, including through Sinn Féin’s Mineral Oil Tax (Emergency Cost of Living Reduction) Bill, which would cut excise and deliver real relief to households.

“TDs in this constituency — Martin Heydon and Seán Ó Fearghaíl - now have a choice to make.

“They can stand with workers and families who are under real pressure, or they can continue to back a government that is refusing to act.

“I am calling on them to support Sinn Féin’s motion tonight and to back the legislation we have put forward to bring fuel prices down.”